"By God, sir!" he said. "You have detected us. How long have you known it?"
"From the moment Your Grace took off your hat," I said.
He laughed again, highly and merrily.
"Well; no harm is done," he said. "We took other names to make matters easier for all. You have told Mr. Jermyn?"
"No, sir," I said.
"I beg of you not to do so," he said. "It will spoil all. Nor Mistress
Dorothy. It is far easier to do without ceremony now and again."
I bowed again; but I said nothing.
"Then you may as well know," said the Duke, "that Mr. Atkins is none other than my Lord of Essex. We have been at Newmarket together."
I bowed to my lord, and he to me.
"Well—the horses," said Monmouth. "At eight o'clock, if you please."